nautical mile

noun

: any of various units of distance used for sea and air navigation based on the length of a minute of arc of a great circle of the earth and differing because the earth is not a perfect sphere: such as
a
: a British unit equal to 6080 feet (1853.2 meters)
b
: an international unit equal to exactly 1852 meters (6076.115 feet or 1.15 statute miles) used officially in the U.S. since July 1, 1954

Examples of nautical mile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The strategy, published in the Chinese journal Tactical Missile Technology, claims a combination of satellites, AI, and missiles could render carrier groups vulnerable, even at distances of over 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km). Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026 The 150-ton cargo barge was hit about 5 nautical miles off the Omani city of Khasab, Reza Shahidian said, according to Iran's semiofficial Mehr news agency. Sarah Dean, NBC news, 12 June 2026 As for propulsion, the Navetta 35 is powered by a pair of 1,400 hp MAN V-13 engines that give it a top speed of 15 knots, a cruising speed of 12 knots, and a range of up to 1,800 nautical miles. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 The 150-ton cargo dhow, a type of boat traditionally made of wood, was carrying essential goods when it was struck five nautical miles off the port of Khasab, the report claimed. Mark Osborne, CBS News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nautical mile

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nautical mile was in 1830

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Cite this Entry

“Nautical mile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nautical%20mile. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

nautical mile

noun
: any of various units of distance used for sea and air navigation equal to about 6076 feet (1852 meters)

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